Carer Payment (CP) and Carer Allowance (CA) overseas absences 009-03100000

When a carer and/or care receiver advises of an overseas absence, it may be necessary to code portability details as well as coding the respite absence.

Whether portability and/or respite should be coded depends on many factors. These include:

• whether the carer is overseas with one or more of the care receivers
• whether just the carer or just the care receiver go overseas
• the age of the care receiver
• whether the care receiver is in receipt of an income support payment

There are separate procedures concerning respite absences, and on portability for Carer Payment (CP) and/or Carer Allowance (CA) depending on the payment the carer receives.

For detailed assistance for Centrelink staff in determining when to code portability and/or absence details, see Carer Allowance (CA)/Carer Payment (CP) interaction of portability and temporary cessation of care (respite) rules.

The Portability Script - Departures and Returns is to be used to assess the customer's entitlement to payment while overseas. The script can also be used to assess the customer's entitlement where they are only thinking about going overseas and want to know about their payment before making a final decision.

A letter can be sent to the customer confirming the advice given and providing contact details for Services Australia while overseas.

The Department of Home Affairs generally advises when a customer or child leaves or returns to Australia. The Centrelink system uses the information to assesses the portability of payments and concession cards. The assessment will happen regardless of whether the customer has told Services Australia their travel details. Note: do not cancel Department of Home Affairs datalink activities.

Where the customer gives evidence they travelled on different dates, the agency should consider using those different dates, if both the following apply:

• the new dates are logical
• the results will be a better outcome for the customer

This most often happens if a customer passes through Australian customs on one day but the flight leaves the next day.

In many cases, customers do not have to tell the agency if they are leaving Australia temporarily for less than 6 weeks, or when they have returned from a temporary absence.

When customers do need to tell us about a departure before leaving Australia or when they have returned to Australia they can use the Travelling outside of Australia service. This service is in their Centrelink online account. If the travel or portability assessment is complex the online service will ask them to contact the agency.

Services Australia website lists when customers must tell the agency they are leaving or returning to Australia. The Resources page has a link.